| Issue ID | 990553 |
| Internal NHTSA # | 10521781 |
| Manufacurer | Kia Motors Corporation |
| Brand | KIA |
| Model | OPTIMA |
| Model Year | 2008 |
| File date | 09/06/13 |
| Component | STRUCTURE:BODY |
| Product type code | VEHICLE |
| Description of the problem | While traveling at the posted speed limit of 55 mph a deer ran into the side of my 2008 kia optima which is equipped with side air bags in which the drivers side door was pushed in on the driver and the drivers side widow was destroyed inflicting cuts on the driver and with the entire drivers side of the vehicle received extensive damage including the hood of the vehicle. The side air bags never deployed to ensure the safety of the driver even with the severity of the impact of which kia national headquarters was contacted and the explanation was that the vehicle was not moving sideways at impact and this is why the air bags did not deploy! This is not a valid excuse to me or i would think an consumer purchasing this vehicle with the assumption that they have side air bag protection! |
| Vehicle Mileage at Failure | 689000 |
| Number of Occurences | 1 |
| Source of the issue | NHTSA WEB SITE |
| City and State | KEWAUNEE, WI |
| VIN pattern | KNAGE123885XXXXXX |
| Was vehicle invloved in a crash? | N |
| Was vehicle involved in a fire? | N |
| Was incedent reported to police? | N |
| Was medical attention required? | |
| Was part original equipment? | |
| No. of injured persons | 1 |
| No. of fatalities | 0 |
| Date of purchase | 07/08/26 |
| Was original owner? | N |
| Anti-lock brakes | N |
| Cruise control | N |
| Number of cylinders | 4 |
| Drive train type | |
| Transmission type | |
| Vehicle speed | 55 |
| DoT tire identifier | |
| Tire size | |
| Location of tire code | |
| Type of tire failure code | |
| Was defective tire repaired? | |
| Date of manufacture | |
| Type of child seat code | |
| Type of restraint | |
| Dealer's name | |
| Dealer's telephone number | |
| Dealer's city | |
| Dealer's state code | |
| Dealer's ZIP code |